A fault correction technique for phased array antennas

The application of R.A. Shore´s (1985) sidelobe sector nulling method to fault correction of a phased array radar antenna has been developed under the smart skins program. This fault correction technique can reshape the beam pattern of a partially failed array to maintain low sidelobe characteristics. If a faulty element is discovered, then the fault correction method is used to compensate for the failed element by readjusting the complex weights of the remaining operating elements. Several algorithms such as adaptive array methods, the null displacement technique, the gradient search algorithm, the pattern search algorithm, and the sector nulling algorithm have been investigated for deriving the proper complex weights for maintaining low sidelobe levels. Because the column array is linear, Shore´s sidelobe sector nulling algorithm has been selected for its simplicity and effectiveness. The sector nulling method can be extended to reduce the overall sidelobe level of a 20-element array with no failed element.<>